It’s just two weeks into the college football season, and two top-10 teams are in trouble.
Thank you, Sun Belt. Appalachian State beat No. 6 Texas A&M 17-14, and Marshall beat No. 8 Notre Dame 26-21. What does that mean for Sporting News’ College Football Playoff picture?
The Irish are out. No two-loss team has made the CFP, and that’s a reality new coach Marcus Freeman will have to face in his first season.
MORE: Five numbers from ND’s history-making loss to Marshall
The Aggies are in huge trouble. Sure, Texas A&M could run the table in the SEC West under Jimbo Fisher, but that looks unlikely given the struggles against the Mountaineers. That is a stunner given the offseason back and forth with Alabama coach Nick Saban.
A third Top 10 team, Baylor, fell in double overtime at BYU 26-20. The Crimson Tide survived an upset bid in a 20-19 victory at Texas, and that might prompt voters to put defending national champion Georgia at No. 1.
The first set of College Football Playoff rankings won’t be unveiled until Nov. 1, but Sporting News has a feel for how that looks heading into Week 3.
BENDER: Sun Belt Saturday and more takeaways from Week 2
The College Football Playoff semifinals will be on Dec. 31 this season. Those semifinals will be played at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta and the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz. The College Football Playoff championship game is on Jan. 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
Who is in the mix? A look at the CFP picture through two weeks:
Four In
1. Georgia (2-0)
Up next: at South Carolina
It’s OK to put the defending national champions here after two weeks. The Bulldogs allowed 128 total yards in a 33-0 shutout against Samford, and the offense continued to click around Stetson Bennett (24 of 34, 300 yards, TD). A total of 15 different Georgia players caught a pass in the share-the-wealth offense, and the ground game cruised with the standard 4.0 yards per carry. The Bulldogs didn’t score a second-half TD, but that is not a major concern. A road test at South Carolina is the first step in SEC play, and you can expect the Bulldogs to be locked in for four quarters in Columbia.
2. Alabama (2-0)
Up next: vs. Louisiana-Monroe
The Crimson Tide needed some late-game magic from Bryce Young (27 of 39, 219 yards, TD) to survive an upset bid from Texas in a 20-19 victory. Alabama had 15 penalties for 100 yards, and they had trouble converting on third down. Nick Saban, however, managed to score what could be a key non-conference victory on the road if the Longhorns make a run in the Big 12. The Crimson Tide have flaws, but the reigning Heisman Trophy winner proved he can offset those in the clutch. Saban has more than enough “rat poison” to work with for the next two weeks.
MORE: Four takeaways from Alabama’s big scare at Texas
3. Ohio State (2-0)
Up next: vs. Toledo
The Buckeyes didn’t have receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Julian Fleming, but that did not matter in a 45-12 victory against Arkansas State. Marvin Harrison Jr. had seven catches for 184 yards and three TDs. C.J. Stroud hit 16 of 24 passes for 351 yards and four TDs. Ohio State had nine penalties for 85 yards, which gives Buckeyes coach Ryan Day something to harp on ahead of next week’s prime-time matchup against Toledo. The Big Ten will matter more than last week’s victory against Notre Dame, which fell to 0-2 after a shocking 26-21 loss to Marshall.
4. Michigan (2-0)
Up next: vs. UConn
J.J. McCarthy’s first start was a success. The sophomore QB led TD drives on five of six possessions in the first half in another 56-10 blowout against Hawaii. McCarthy (11 of 12, 229 yards, 3 TDs) averaged 19.1 yards per attempt, and Cade McNamara (4 of 6, 26 yards, INT) did not respond as well in relief. Seven different Wolverines scored TDs, and Michigan averaged 8.1 yards per carry. The Wolverines solidified its claim as No. 4 for now, but there is a long road to get to the finale against Ohio State. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh named McCarthy the starter for Week 3 against UConn. That piece of drama appears to be resolved.
Two out
5. Clemson (2-0)
Up next: vs. Louisiana Tech
It was a short week, but the Tigers extended their home winning streak to 35 games. Clemson beat Furman 35-12 after the Labor Day victory against Georgia Tech. Coach Dabo Swinney stuck with starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (21 of 27, 231 yards, 2 TDS, INT). Freshman Cade Klubnik (1 of 4, -2 yards) is the clear backup for now. The defense allowed 384 yards, which was eight more yards than Clemson gained. The Tigers an easier path than Michigan to a conference championship in the ACC, but there are still questions about whether they can run the table.
6. USC (2-0)
Up next: vs. Fresno State
The Trojans and first-year coach Lincoln Riley were ready for primetime in a 41-28 against Stanford in which Caleb Williams (20 of 27 passing, 341 yards, 4 TDs) led an explosive offense that was too much for the Cardinal to handle, especially in the first half. Williams and Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison (7 catches, 172 yards, 2 TDs) hooked up for two first-half scores, too. Oregon transfer Travis Dye (14 carries, 105 yards, TD) also was a force, and that gives the Trojans’ one of the best trios in college football. It’s not too call this one of the best offenses in the FBS, but two red-zone turnovers by Stanford helped ignite this blowout.
MORE: Williams, Addison ball out for USC
Four to watch
7. Oklahoma (2-0)
Up next: at Nebraska
The Sooners needed a 24-point third quarter to blow open a 33-3 victory against Kent State. The slow start wasn’t ideal, but Dillon Gabriel (21 of 28, 296 yards, 3 TDs) continues to fit in offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby’s offense, and Marvin Mims (7 catches, 163 yards, 2 TDs) has re-emerged as a star player. Oklahoma struggled on third down and let the Golden Flashes sustain drives, but that’s nit-picking another blowout ahead of another reunion with old Big 12 rival Nebraska. This is the first must-win game of many for Brent Venables, and it could be the last must-win game for Huskers coach Scott Frost.
8. Oklahoma State (2-0)
Up next: Arkansas-Pine Bluff
No. 9 Baylor’s loss to No. 21 BYU opened the door for the Cowboys to crack this list. The Cowboys doubled up Arizona State 34-17 in Week 2, and they draw Arkansas-Pine Bluff before a Week 5 showdown with the Bears. Spencer Sanders, who averages 337 passing yards and 55.5 rushing yards with nine total TDs, could warrant some Heisman attention if that keeps up. Count on Mike Gundy to keep this team in the hunt, just like last season.
9. Arkansas (2-0)
Up next: vs. Missouri State
Arkansas built on a Week 1 victory against Cincinnati with a 44-30 win against South Carolina. KJ Jefferson completed 76.6% of his passes through two weeks, and the Hogs racked up 295 yards and five TDs on the ground against the Gamecocks. Third-year coach Sam Pittman has Arkansas rolling, and after Missouri State the two-game trial against Texas A&M and Alabama begins. Will the Razorbacks be the best story in September again?
10. Michigan State (2-0)
Up next: at Washington
The Spartans have dominated two inferior MAC opponents under third-year coach Mel Tucker. That continued with a 52-0 victory against Akron. Payton Thorne (18 of 28, 202 yards, 2 INTs) didn’t have his best game, but transfer running backs Jalen Berger and Jarek Broussard combined for 188 rushing yards and five TDs. That tandem hasn’t disappointed in replacing Kenneth Walker III. UNLV transfer Jacoby Windmon added 1.5 sacks to his early-season total of 5.5. Week 3 opponent Washington is a step up in competition and a good test on the road. The Spartans are used to operating in Ohio State and Michigan’s shadow. In that regard, nothing much has changed in 2022.
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